NEW research has revealed that 90% of mid-level women are feeling optimistic about their future in the built environment.
Data from almost 220 applications to The Circle Partnership’s Circle Academy programme revealed that almost 67% of mid-level women believe gender representation is on an upward trajectory across the industry.
The insight has been shared to coincide with the launch of the inaugural Scottish 2026 Circle Academy programme. Almost 60% of the mid-level applicants believe that real, meaningful change needs to be led from the top through clear direction, visible commitment, and action. Scottish applicants in particular were hugely positive about the cultures of their organisations enabling them to perform at their best, and 99% report feeling positive about their future as a woman at work.
Ceri Moyers, director of The Circle Partnership, said, “Receiving almost 220 applications for our 100 Circle Academy programme spaces in itself is evidence of the ambition that women working in our sector have to succeed at work. Furthermore, over 90% are fully committed to the built environment, intending to stay in the sector for 5+ years or their whole career.
“Diversity has long made good business sense in terms of enhanced innovation, productivity and profitability, and set within this current optimistic context, there can surely be no more timely opportunity for businesses and senior leadership to meet mid-level women’s commitment and ambition with opportunity.”
Consistent with previous year’s applications was ‘confidence, assertiveness and self-belief’ emerging as the most important behavioural skill these women want to develop to succeed. This tallies with women’s ‘limiting self-beliefs’ repeatedly highlighted in research as one of the primary personal reasons negatively impacting workplace gender balance.
Almost one third of applicants for this ‘mid-level’ programme were age 40+, adding weight to the barrier of ‘perceived lack of progression opportunities’ and ‘career stagnancy’ that is said to negatively effect overall gender balance.
In terms of practical skills, applicants’ primary desire to work on their ‘strategic awareness’ demonstrates the validity of research that suggests women miss out on a lot of the strategic, financial and business acumen – the so-called ‘missing 33%’ – that men gain from informal networks and mentoring.
For those less positive about the industry’s future in terms of gender balance, familiar issues were raised including: limited female representation; structural and cultural barriers; balancing personal and professional life; and perceptions and bias.
